This is the easy way to dry herbs at home in twelve hours. Plus, this method is error-proof, there is no smell and you don’t need a place to lay or hang your herbs to air dry.
Basil
Preserving fresh herbs from your garden, or even from the store, is the best way to have nutritious, tasty, and healthy herbs to season your food throughout the winter.
This method works for all types of herbs. The ones I most commonly preserve are basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley, but this method will work with other types of herbs as well.
Rosemary
In twelve to fourteen hours, without smell or fuss, you can have dried herbs ready for use and storage. For herbs that are smaller and dryer, it takes twelve hours. For herbs that are larger and moister, it takes fourteen hours.
Thyme
I use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer to dehydrate my herbs. It is foolproof and easy. I tried drying herbs in the oven but I kept burning them because I could not set my oven temperature low enough. I would turn on the oven then forget to turn it off.
I would also dry herbs by hanging them upside all over the house but we got tired of running into hanging bunches of herbs.
Rinse herbs with clear water and pat them dry with a clean towel or cloth.
Remove any debris and wilted leaves. Remove the herbs from their stems.
Place the leaves in your air fryer, or dehydrating oven.
Dry the smaller, dryer leaves for 12 hours at 125 F/52 C. Dry larger, moister leaves for 14 hours at 125 F/52 C.
Let cool and store in airtight containers. I keep some herbs, in a small container, in the fridge, or in the cupboard ready for use. I store the larger quantity in the freezer. That way the herbs stay fresh and safe.
An air fryer or dehydrator is the fastest and easiest way to dehydrate herbs. Most ovens cannot be set to 125 F/52 C and hanging herbs to dry them is a six-week process.
Investing in your kitchen tools is worth it worth. Good tools pay you back with convenience and long life. For more kitchen tools, check out my Kitchen Tool Kits.
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I hope you are having a good end to the year. Use your creativity to make this holidays season special in its own way.
May you have health and what you wish in 2022.
Our Christmas Celebration
Outdoor gift-giving despite the temperature.
The free-range chicken had been roasted and portioned a month ago. I took it from the freezer. All I had to do was steam the potatoes and carrots in the Instant Pot and make a Sage and Celery gravy.
As I was feeling sad about not having Christmas dinner together at the same table with the larger family, I used the best china to make everything nice and pretty.
Also, because I was feeling sad, I put on a red sweater and Ella (Fitzgerald, that is). An amazing vocalist and I can’t be sad when listening to her.
Our simple, easy, and delicious dinner. A treat for the dog and the device for our virtual connection.
I had also made the low-sugar cranberry sauce in October, portioned and froze it. That was all ready-to-go. By cooking part of your dinner beforehand, you have more time and energy to enjoy the holiday.
Wishing everyone the best for 2022 and may it be a better year.
Glass mixing bowls are great for making a salad because it makes a beautiful serving dish for the table, then you can store the salad in the same bowl.
An air fryer is the fastest and easiest way to make Roast Kale.
Investing in your kitchen tools is worth it as good tools pay you back with the ease of use and long life. For more kitchen tools, check out my Kitchen Tool Kits.
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Tag me on Instagram with a photo, when you make this drink. @debbieesplinfood.
Have you ever tried or even heard of Roast Kale? It is super healthy, easy to make, and delicious.
Roast kale makes a great afternoon, evening, or TV snack. Check out the recipe below and give it a try.
This recipe is very healthy. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Check out this article for more information on the 10 health benefits of kale.
This recipe is vegetarian and vegan.
This recipe is gluten-free.
Ingredients for Roast Kale
Kale leaves, as many as you want
2 – 3 tbsp. (20 – 30 mL) Olive oil
Sprinkle of salt & pepper, sesame seeds, or any other seasoning you want, like chili powder, onion, or garlic powder.
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Process Steps
Wash and dry the kale. Break off the leaves into medium-sized pieces. Coat with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasoning.
Cook in an air fryer for 3 minutes or in the oven at 425 F for 18 – 20 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy.
Note: Roast kale does not store well, so make the amount that you will eat in one sitting.
Glass mixing bowls are great for making a salad because it makes a beautiful serving dish for the table, then you can store the salad in the same bowl.
An air fryer is the fastest and easiet way to make Roast Kale.
Investing in your kitchen tools is worth it as good tools pay you back with ease of use and long life. For more kitchen tools, check out my Kitchen Tool Kits.
Do you like to learn about food? Join my newsletter. Join my newsletter so that you learn new things about food. Each issue has a special article on some aspect or type of food. The information, I share in my newsletter is not found in my blog or YouTube videos.
Do you like this recipe? How do you like to season it? Let me know in the comments below.
Tag me on Instagram with a photo, when you make this drink. @debbieesplinfood.
With 18 years of experience working in industrial food production and a lifetime of experience cooking for self and family, plus a passion for good food, I have tips and information to share with you.
My newsletter contains information to help you know more about food, how to keep food safe, how to cut waste and maintain quality.
Here is an easy sauté cabbage recipe that is fast to make and delicious to eat.
Cabbage is one of the most healthy vegetables that you can eat. With this dish, the cabbage is delicious. You can use red or green cabbage or both, as you wish.
It is fast and easy to make and leftovers can be stored in the fridge for your next meal.
Check out this video for how to make Easy, Sauté cabbage or go to the written instructions below.
This recipe is very healthy. With cabbage, celery, and carrots, this recipe is made with some of the most nutritious vegetables that exist. For more information about the health benefits of each vegetable, check out the information below.
This recipe has vegetarian, and vegan versions.
This recipe is gluten-free.
April 20, 2021, by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Glass mixing bowls are great for making a salad because it makes a beautiful serving dish for the table, then you can store the salad in the same bowl.
Professional equipment is expensive. This set is still very good, but more affordable.
Investing in your kitchen tools is worth it as they pay you back with the ease of use and long life. For more kitchen tools, check out my Kitchen Tool Kits.
Recipe for Easy Sauté Cabbage
Here is the recipe for Easy Sauté Cabbage in a format that you can download, save and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
30 mL (2 tbsp.) Olive oil, Sunflower Oil or Butter
My favourite sauce recipe:
15 – 30 mL (1 tbsp) Maple Syrup
30 -45 mL ( 2 tbsp.) Apple Cider Vinegar
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Vegetarian version: use any of the oils or butter, as you wish.
Vegan version: use the oils and not the butter.
Preparation
Rinse and chop the vegetables.
You can let the cabbage sit in a bowl for 15 minutes with the salt if you want to soften it slightly. This is not necessary and I don’t normally do it as I like my cabbage crispy.
Warm the oil or butter in the pan, then saute the onion for 1 minute, if you add it. Then add the cabbage and stir fry for two minutes. Then add the celery. Saute for another 10 to 13 minutes, depending on how soft you want the cabbage. Stir every minute or two during the cooking.
Mix the liquid sauce ingredients together and add to the cabbage at the end of the cooking. Add the salt and pepper.
You can add pumpkin and sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy!
Note: This recipe can be made smaller or bigger by adjusting the number of vegetables.
If you want to learn more about the health benefits of cabbage, then check out my newsletter here…
Do you like to learn about food? Join my newsletter. Join my newsletter so that you learn new things about food. Each issue has a special article on some aspect or type of food. The information, I share in my newsletter is not found in my blog or YouTube videos.
Learn about the advantages of using a food thermometer when you cook, and what are the recommended temperatures to reach. Download it here.
Do you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments below.
Tag me on Instagram with a photo, when you make this drink. @debbieesplinfood.
Coleslaw is a healthy, very easy salad to make and it makes a great side dish for most dishes at any time of the year.
Check out this video for how to make Easy, Healthy 4 Vegetable Coleslaw or go to the written instructions below.
This recipe is very healthy. With cabbage, kale, celery, and carrots, this recipe is made with some of the most nutritious vegetables that exist. For more information about the health benefits of each vegetable, check out the information below.
This recipe is vegetarian, but I also give you a vegan recipe.
I also give you the recipe for creamy and for oil and vinegar dressing.
This recipe is gluten-free.
March 11, 2021, by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Equipment To Make Easy, Healthy 4-Vegetable Coleslaw
Glass mixing bowls are great for making a salad because it makes a beautiful serving dish for the table, then you can store the salad in the same bowl.
Here is the recipe for Easy, Healthy 4-Vegetable Coleslaw in a format that you can download, save and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
Ingredients to Make Easy, Healthy 4-Vegetable Coleslaw
Salad Ingredients
1/4 green cabbage, thinly sliced or diced
1/8 red cabbage, thinly sliced or diced
1 celery stick, finely diced
3 carrots, peeled and grated
1/2 to 1 kale leaf, finely chopped
1/2 onion, finely diced, if desired
1 clove garlic, finely diced, if desired
1/2 tsp. salt & pepper
Dressing Ingredients
1/2 to 2/3 cup mayonnaise or olive oil for the vinegar and vegan version
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp. dry mustard powder
1 tsp. salt & pepper
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Ingredients to Make Easy, Healthy 4-Vegetable Coleslaw
Wash the salad ingredients and prepare as indicated above. Mix all the salad ingredients together.
For the creamy dressing, mix all dressing ingredients, except for the olive oil, in a separate bowl. For the oil & vinegar and vegan dressing, mix all the ingredients except the mayonnaise together, in a separate bowl. Then mix the dressing into the salad. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Taste and add more seasoning as desired.
Note: This salad is best if it can sit in the fridge for at least one hour for the flavours to mix.
Tip: This coleslaw can keep in the fridge for three to four days. So make a batch and have your salad ready to eat.
Note: This recipe can be made smaller or bigger by adjusting the number of vegetables and dressing.
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This coleslaw recipe will go really with my recipe for an Easy, Shrimp Vegetable Dinner in Wine Sauce. Here is the video and there is a link to the written version below.
In this video, I show you how to make an easy shrimp, vegetable dinner in white wine sauce.
Fast, easy, healthy, and delicious.
You can have a meal ready in 15 minutes.
Uses one pan to cook everything, so the clean-up is easy.
Gluten-Free and pescatarian.
This recipe is so fast and easy to prepare at the last minute. And delicious.
February 24, 2021, by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Video On How To Make Easy Shrimp, Vegetable Dinner with Wine Sauce
Equipment To Make Easy Shrimp, Vegetarian Dinner with Wine Sauce
A good quality Sauté Pan is essential for even heating and cooking, and not worrying that the non-stick surface could wear out or break down.
Here is the recipe for Easy Shrimp, Vegetable Dinner in Wine Sauce in a format that you can download, save and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
Ingredients For Easy Shrimp, Vegetable Dinner in Wine Sauce
20 Medium Shrimp, or any size, tails removed
1 Bell Pepper
1 Zucchini
5 Mushrooms
1/2 Onion, if desired
1 Garlic clove, if desired
Oil or butter for sauteeing
15 mL (1 tbsp.) Lemon Juice
30 mL (2 tbsp.) Butter
1—2 tbsp. Corn Starch
250 mL (1 cup) White Wine, or more or less to get the thickness of sauce you want
Salt, pepper, mustard powder, Italian seasoning
1/2 cup cooked rice per person
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Note: This recipe can be made smaller or bigger by adjusting the quantity of shrimp and vegetables.
Preparation Instructions For Easy Shrimp, Vegetable Dinner in Wine Sauce
1 Cook your rice as you normally would and put 1/2 cup on each plate. I prefer brown rice.
2 Rinse and chop the vegetables into large bite-sized pieces. Sautée the onion and garlic for 2 minutes then add the rest of the vegetables and sauté for 6 to 10 minutes, depending on how soft you like them. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Remove the vegetables from the pan.
3 Rinse the shrimp and put between 2 or 3 layers of paper towel and pat dry. Put oil or butter in the pan and heat. Add the shrimp. Shrimp cook very fast so do not leave them. Stir the shrimp and make sure to cook each piece on both sides. You will know that the shrimp is done when it goes pink or slightly pink and when it curls uptight.
Note: Small shrimp will cook in one minute. Larger ones can cook in 3 minutes. DO NOT OVERCOOK. The texture goes rubbery. Remove the shrimp from the pan. I cooked mine to 155 F internal temperature.
4 Melt the butter in the pan. Mix a little wine with the corn starch. Pour the wine into the melted butter. Add the corn starch/wine mixture. Add a dash of salt, pepper, dry mustard, and Italian seasoning. Stir and keep stirring until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir and boil for 1 minute then remove from the heat.
5 Add a little salt, pepper, and lemon juice to the shrimp. Stir.
6 Add the vegetables and shrimp to the plate. Pour on some sauce and Enjoy!
Do you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments below.
Tag me on Instagram with a photo, when you make this drink. @debbieesplinfood.
And if you use oat milk (my preference), or soy or almond milk, to make hot chocolate the recipe is also vegan and just as healthy.
I also give you the recipe to make three-ingredient hot chocolate with regular milk.
Three-Ingredient Hot Chocolate with Oat Milk
I think hot chocolate made at home with cocoa powder tastes much better than when made with instant chocolate milk powder. Instant chocolate milk powders contain sodium and artificial flavours so the version made with cocoa powder is healthier.
This drink is so wonderful after working or exercising out in the cold air. Hot chocolate made from scratch at home is so delicious, fast, and easy to make.
February 22, 2021, by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Video On How To Make Three-Ingredient Hot Chocolate With Oat Milk
Watch the video above or see the printed instructions below.
Equipment To Make Three-Ingredient Hot Chocolate With Oat Milk
Here is the recipe for the Three-Ingredient Hot Chocolate in a format that you can download, save and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
500 mL (2 cups) Oat, Almond, Soy Milk, or Regular Milk for the dairy version
45 mL (3 tbsp.) unsweetened cocoa powder
45 mL (3 tbsp.) white sugar
4 chocolate chips, if desired
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Vegan version: use oat, soy, or almond milk (I prefer oat milk. Using Oat Milk with vanilla is also delicious.)
Note: If you want a sweeter version, you can slightly decrease the cocoa or slightly increase the sugar. For a more bitter version, you can slightly increase the cocoa or decrease the sugar.
Note: This recipe can be doubled.
Preparation Instructions For Three-Ingredient Hot Chocolate
Pour the milk into a saucepan. Add the cocoa powder and the white sugar. Add the chocolate chips, if you want.
Stir with a whisk while heating the mixture over medium to medium-high heat. If you use medium-high heat, you must stir continuously. As the milk heats the cocoa will dissolve.
3. Keep stirring so that the milk does not stick to the pan. When the cocoa powder is dissolved, and you start to see foam on top of the liquid, this means that the mixture is getting hot. Once you see foam and a little bit of steam your hot chocolate is ready. Remove it immediately from the heat as you do not want the milk to scald or boil. It will destroy the taste.
4. Pour the chocolate milk into mugs or coffee cups and enjoy. You can top it with marshmallows, but I do not do that as I do not want the extra sugar.
Note: You can store the chocolate milk in the fridge for two days.
Tip: You can freeze hot chocolate. Let it cool then put it into a leakproof container and freeze it. To drink it, let it thaw then warm it up.
Do you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments below.
Tag me on Instagramwith a photo, when you make this drink. @debbieesplinfood.
This recipe is so easy to make, it is cook-approved.
Plus, with the cookies and chocolates, it is kid-approved.
With the fruit and custard, it is parent-approved.
A great family dessert that is light in the stomach and is delicious at any time of the year!
Vegetarian Fruit And Custard Dessert
February 15, 2021, by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Video on How To Make Easy Vegetarian Fruit And Custard Dessert
Watch the video above or see the printed instructions below.
Here is the recipe for the Easy Vegetarian Fruit And Custard Dessert in a format that you can download, save and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
Equipment To Make Easy Vegetarian Fruit And Custard Dessert
If you do not have all the equipment to make this, then check out my Baking Essentials Kit for links to tools and accessories that will make your life easier.
Preparation Instructions for Easy Vegetarian Fruit And Custard Dessert
Break the cookies into bite-sized pieces and line the bottom of your bowls, glasses, or dish.
Wash and peel the fruit, as necessary, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Add fruit until the container is half or almost half-full.
In a saucepan, stir the custard powder and sugar. Using a whisk over low heat, add the milk only a tablespoon at a time and stir after each addition. After adding a few tablespoons of the milk, you can start pouring very slowly while stirring continuously. While you stir, make sure to get rid of any powder lumps. Once the mixture is quite liquid, then you can add the rest of the milk.
Raise the temperature of the stove to medium or medium-high and keep stirring the custard mixture until it starts to boil. When it boils, lower the heat, keep stirring and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and let it cool for 15 minutes.
Spoon the custard over the fruit and cookies. Push the custard into the dish and keep adding custard until you have filled your dish. Decorate as you wish. Let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool.
Gluten-Free version: use gluten-free cookies
Vegan version: use oat, soy, or almond milk and cookies that are not made with any animal products like butter, egg, or milk.
Note: This recipe can be doubled.
Note: You can make this recipe in one larger dish or in individual bowls or glasses.
Tip: This dessert is best eaten the same day, otherwise the cookies go soggy, but it can be stored for 2 days in the fridge.
Do you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments.
Tag me on Instagramwith a photo, when you make the dessert. @debbieesplinfood.
Chicken Noodle Soup is a delicious, easy, and healthy soup to make. This version has four extra ingredients that add even more healthy benefits. These ingredients increase the nutritional benefits of an already-healthy soup.
The four super ingredients are barley, spinach, turmeric, and fresh ginger. Check out the health benefits of these ingredients after the recipe.
This chicken noodle soup is delicious and it makes a great meal or side-dish. I also include the instructions for making Chicken Rice Soup as well.
Plus, Chicken Noodle Soup is inexpensive to make. It costs less than $1 per portion, even with the four extra ingredients.
Please note that barley does contain gluten so this recipe of Chicken Noodle Soup is not gluten-free, but the Chicken Rice Soup is gluten-free.
January 25, 2021 by Deborah Esplin
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my Affiliate Disclosure in the legal page link in the footer for further information. If not otherwise stated, all prices are intended in Canadian$.
Video On How To Make Chicken Noodle Soup
Watch the video above or see the printed instructions below.
Here is the recipe for the Chicken Noodle Soup in a format that you can download and print. The ingredients and steps are listed below.
Do you have all the tools that you need to make soup or stew?
A stockpot is a very useful piece of equipment because the making of a soup involves a lot of liquid. Having a good-sized stockpot means that you can make bigger batches at one time, which is a more efficient way to cook.
If you need equipment, check out my suggestions for the essential items to make cooking easier. Soup & Stew Essentials Kit.
Ingredients for Chicken Noodle Soup
5 (500 g) Carrots, chopped
3 (500 g) Potatoes, chopped
4 (300 g) celery sticks, chopped
1/2 Onion & 1 clove Garlic, diced
1.5 cup (300 g) Barley
2.7 L Chicken broth
2.7 L Water
1.25 cup (125 g) Chicken meat
1/4 bag (50 g ) Fresh Spinach, chopped
2 tbsp (10 g) Fresh Ginger, diced
1.5 cup (220 g) Noodles
1.3 tbsp (20 mL) each Salt and Pepper
1 tbsp (15 mL) each Mustard Powder, Italian Seasoning, Poultry Seasoning
2 tbsp (30 mL) Tumeric
3 tbsp (45 mL) each of Olive oil, Poultry bouillon, Lemon juice, Apple cider vinegar, Balsamic vinegar
Peel and wash the carrots and potatoes. Wash the celery. Chop these vegetables into bite-size pieces. Add to a stockpot or large pot with the broth, water, chicken, and barley. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes covered.
Add the dry seasoning ingredients, liquid flavour ingredients, and the noodles. Simmer for 20 minutes covered.
Mix the water and cornstarch together and add to the soup mixture. Simmer for one minute.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. Your soup is ready.
Note: This soup can be stored in the fridge for four days. It can also be frozen.
Tip: You can use any kind of noodle, but the smaller noodles are better for soup.
Serving suggestions: Serve this soup hot with fresh herbs sprinkled on top. You can also add a dap of plain yogurt or a little bit of grated cheese.
Note: If you want to make Chicken Rice Soup instead, then cook the soup following this recipe but do not add the noodles. Instead, add 2 to 3 cups of cooked rice at the end of the soup cooking.
Plus, Chicken Noodle Soup just tastes so good. That, in itself, is a strong reason to make and eat it.
Health Benefits of Barley
Barley is rich in vitamins and minerals including molybdenum, manganese, and selenium. These are trace minerals that are important for our health. Barley is a whole-grain and is rich in fiber. Please note that Pearly Barley has had some of the bran removed during the polishing process so it contains a little less bran than Pot Barley.
As you can see, there is a theme here. Chicken Noodle Soup can reduce inflammation. These four extra ingredients can also reduce inflammation. This version of Chicken Noodle Soup definitely deserves a spot in your recipe book as a great soup to make especially in the colder months, not just because it is delicious, but also because it is so healthy and inexpensive.
Let me know if you try the recipe. Put a comment here or take a photo and tag me on Instagram. @debbieesplinfood
Here is a recipe on how to make your own bone broth or stock. Making your own chicken stock for this soup increases the health benefits.
This recipe is very healthy. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Check out this article for more information on the 
Don’t forget the special ingredient. Love.
Let me know in the comments below.
